The blog will offer purely objective and candid analyses for a better understanding of the events that keep happening and that provide dynamism and direction to the flow of the history and development of the human societies. Being a forum, the comments and opinions from readers whether for or against the views expressed in it, are gratefully welcome. Suggestions for improving the blog are welcome.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

What about the Pakistani Journalists who took Bribe?

May 3, 2016

By Saeed Qureshi

Let us start from the
premise that journalists are not angels. They need money because they are less
privileged. We all know that 19 prominent Pakistani journalists from print and
electronic media took bribe from the notorious property tycoon and founder of
the so called “Bahria Town” Malik Riaz.

The total amount given by Malik
Riaz runs into crores of rupees. These leading journalists are still working on
positions without any qualms of conscience. Neither these bribed journalists
expressed any remorse or resigned their posts, nor did the owners of the
concerned newspapers, periodicals and channels think of sacking them.

These journalists are
still debating and discussing the national issues and dishing out their moral
sermons, wise discourses and astute opinions via their newspapers, journals and
channels. They are vibrantly exhorting their countrymen how the business of the
state should be conducted and how the people of Pakistan should lead their life
morally and socially; whom they should vote for and who was the rascal and who
was upright in the political field.

They have conveniently
put aside the disgrace and the stigma of compromising and selling their
professional integrity and inviolable ethics to the fleecing crooks in business
and industry. These crafty business magnates are not to blame because they need
a congenial media to ignore their atrocious money making bonanzas. Malik Riaz
is a good, amiable and intelligent businessman who is building residential
colonies equipped with modern civic amenities, and where the safety and
protection is ensured.

That is a good job to
do and we need such modern colonies and neighborhoods where people can live
with peace of mind. But the irksome, detestable and hard to digest is the
sleazy manner these media stalwarts offered them for sale of their services and
thus defacing their sacred profession.

Yet another list of
282 journalists, channels and newspapers has come to light that demonstrates
how the media has been up for grabs of money for a dishonorable swap of their
services in favor of the government and special interest groups.

The money disbursed to
these journalists by the Information Ministry is reported to be Rs. 177
million. Besides one of the private TV channels received a hefty amount of 300
million rupees for putting their portal at the disposal of the Information
Ministry and the government in power. It clearly surmises that the entire media
empire is for auction. Reportedly, another list of 155 journalists who
benefited from the largess of the Information Ministry is on the way of being
revealed in the near future.

I am aware of a mega graft case that happened way back in the
80s. This case was seldom reported in the press and went rather unnoticed. A
mammoth amount of 25 crores (then roughly five million US dollars) was given by
the Saudi ambassador to the editor of a local newspaper to drum up support for
the Royal Saudi Government’s position against Saddam regime. It was the time
when the United States had mounted the first Gulf war(2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991)inresponse to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.

The Saudi government
was on the side of the invading forces and had even provided bases to the
coalition forcesfrom34 nations led by the United States. But still it was becoming difficult for the
Saudis to win broader support in the Islamic countries especially in Pakistan
where a sizable population liked Saddam Hussain.

The said
Islamabad-based editors used his newspaper generously and unabashedly for a
sustained smear campaign against Saddam Hussain and in favor of Saudi action.
He was also instrumental in arranging meetings and venues for the Saudi and
Kuwaiti ambassadors in Pakistan to explain the Saudi stance to the media and
political figures.

Within a matter of
couple of months, the said editor who was driving an old ramshackle car bought
three brand new corolla cars and purchased a palatial mansion in a posh sector
of Islamabad for about 8 crores rupees. The rest of the money was deposited in
a Dubai bank. This is how in once in a life bonanza a journalist cum editor
cashed his clout. He is perhaps now the richest among the journalists both from
the past and the present.

Until 2001 when I
migrated to the United States, Islamabad was rife with rumors about several
journalists who were working for certain embassies as informers. One such
journalist otherwise a seasoned, experienced and well mannered person was
apprehended by one of the premier intelligence agencies for his association
with the embassy of a hostile country. He was

extensively tortured
and later the poor chap died in a hospital.

The apex court of
Pakistan has done marvelous job by taking sou-moto cognizance of the bribes
doled out by the federal Ministry of Information in exchange for lenient and
favorable media coverage about the government. But is there any chance for the
bribed money to be returned to the national exchequer? Let us watch how the
legal wind blows upon the beneficiary 282 journalists, the media lords and the
TV channels.

One would expect that
the Supreme Court might admonish the Ministry of Information for buying the
services of the media corps with official funds. But it should also warn the
journalist community to desist from the trappings of the buckets full of easy
money that only tarnishes their image. It is also an outright dishonesty and
shameless betrayal of their profession that is like walking on the edge of a
sword.

But all said and done,
journalists too are human beings and can be dazed by the glitter of money. We
know that some of the leading TV anchors draw monthly emoluments as much as a
million rupees or more. I believe that they would shun such ugly enticements if
individuals like Malik Riaz and his elk throw at them like crumbs.

About Me

Columnist/Analyst/ Former Diplomat.
After obtaining my master’s degrees in Urdu and English literature from Punjab University, I started my career by teaching in a college. Thereafter, I had a stint in the diplomatic service of Pakistan. Finally I landed in journalism, an occupation that I am wedded to for over 20 years now.
I am a strong believer in a civil society and staunch opponent of exploitation in all forms.